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Leader of Hispanic Christian organization speaks at convocation

March 21, 2012 : By Bethany Pico/Liberty University News Service

The Rev. Samuel Rodriguez, a leading spokesperson for Hispanic Evangelicals, challenged Liberty University students in Wednesday’s convocation to work for the “agenda of the Lamb” by using their freedom in Christ to reach the world.

Rodriguez, president of the National Hispanic Christian Leadership Conference, was called one of the most influential Hispanic leaders by The Wall St. Journal. He is a featured speaker in the White House and Congressional meetings on Hispanic-American issues and justice concerns and a frequent contributor to the Washington Post, CNN, FOXNEWS, NY Times, and NPR.

“Our freedom does not come from the political preferences of the ideologues in Washington, D.C.” Rodriguez said during his impassioned speech. “Our freedom does not come from the Republicans or the Democrats, from the donkey or the elephant. Our freedom comes from the Lamb that is on the throne. We are free because Jesus set us free.”

He shared about being asked to pray a “spiritual blessing” at a secular event in Washington, D.C., along with a “non-committal religious leader,” a Muslim, and a Jewish Rabbi, in front of a crowd of more than 300,000.

Rodriguez was the last to pray and delivered a powerful prayer in the name of Jesus Christ, standing for his beliefs despite the pressure to be “politically correct.”

“Liberty, I encourage you today; do not be ashamed. The agenda of the Lamb does not compromise truth,” he said on Wednesday. “We don’t want to be politically correct; we want to be spiritually correct. Do not let your hearts be silenced. The future of North American Christianity is in your hands.”

Senior Mizraim Diaz, a Kinesiology major from Puerto Rico, said he was inspired by the passion and energy Rodriguez had.

“His message was one that made me realize that as Christians we must stand our ground and recognize the power of what God can do when we mention his name,” Diaz said.